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A senior rabbit has slightly different needs than a younger bunny, so learn to recognize the signs that your fluffy pet has reached the golden years.

Rabbits are all different — some may have health problems as they age while others won’t have any. Be prepared, and know which signs are a concern.

1. More napping: Rabbits tend to nap more as they get older. You may notice that your rabbit takes longer naps or naps more often. This is totally normal and just part of getting old. Do make sure, though, that you have a nice soft thick bed or pillow for your rabbit to lie on. It needs a choice of several comfy spots to rest.

2. Not getting around as well: Your rabbit may be a little stiffer when getting up from a nap. Maybe he can’t jump up on to the couch with the same spring in his hop, or he no longer races around and does binkies like usual.
Rabbits do get arthritis. If you suspect your bunny might have it, don’t wait to see what happens. Go to your rabbit veterinarian right away. An X-ray will determine if it is arthritis. Your veterinarian can prescribe medication to help with the inflammation and pain, and might suggest other treatments.

3. Not using the litter box: Depending on the severity of the arthritis, your rabbit could be too stiff or suffer too much pain to hop into his litter box. Most rabbits really like their litter box, so change things to allow your pet to continue using the box by purchasing litter boxes that have a low lip. Aside from providing a more easily accessible box, everything else remains the same — use a rabbit-safe litter and pile hay on top of it.

4. Not grooming like normal: Sometimes senior rabbits topple over when grooming and have a hard time keeping themselves clean. You may notice white flakes on the skin like dandruff, urine on the fur on the inside of the back legs and poop stuck to their bottom. This occurs because it may be harder for your rabbit to balance, bend, twist around and sit to groom. You can help by brushing your rabbit often to get all the loose hair off. Senior rabbits usually enjoy a soft scratching all over, too, as it is harder for them to do this themselves.

If your rabbit experiences tooth problems, this can also make it difficult for him to groom himself.
Keep your rabbit’s toenails trim to help him get around better. Plus, keep his scent glands cleaned out. Wax may build up in the ears, too. Ask your veterinarian to show you how to gently take out any wax buildup.

A senior rabbit is more prone to get fur mites. If you see white flakes on your rabbit’s skin, take him to a veterinarian to check for mites and get treatment.

5. Weight changes: Older rabbits may gain weight due to eating the same amount of food, but not getting as much exercise. Or, they can lose weight. Stick to offering your rabbit a healthy diet, but you may have to make some changes as he ages. Consult with your rabbit’s veterinarian before making any changes.

If your rabbit is overweight, encourage exercise and cut out any high-sugar treats. Being overweight causes a higher risk of heart disease. Plus, overweight rabbits are more prone to sore hocks.
If you rabbit is underweight, increase your rabbit’s pellet portion a little to help him gain weight. Don’t overdo the pellets, however, because you still want your rabbit eating lots of hay. You may try switching to an alfalfa-based pellet, which contains more calories. If your rabbit is having urinary tract problems, bladder sludge or stones, always check with your veterinarian before switching, because in addition to more calories, alfalfa pellets are higher in calcium, too.

Try new healthy treats, but be careful not to overdo it. Often a rabbit’s likes and dislikes change, and a rabbit can become a picky eater. At the Bunny Bunch Boutique, we offer special blends of hay that include herbs and flowers to encourage more hay eating. We also have a healthy line of treats that help keep rabbits interested in eating.

If your rabbit isn’t gaining weight after making the above changes, try a small amount of plain oats to encourage eating and weight gain. Again, consult with your veterinarian before making a change.

Weigh your rabbit often to track his weight loss or gain. Mark the weights on a calendar, and take this with you to show your veterinarian.

6. Not seeing as well: Rabbits do get cataracts and can go totally blind. In my experience, most rabbits adjust very well to blindness. To assist such rabbits, keep their living quarters set up the same way so that they know where to find everything. This helps them know where everything is and minimizes the chances that they’ll bump into anything.

Source: Caroline Charland for SmallAnimalChannel
Excerpt from the annual magazine Rabbits USA, 2011 issue

Before deciding on a rabbit as a pet, ask yourself some questions, such as: What do I want from a pet? Can I afford it? Should I get one or two rabbits? Will a rabbit get on with other pets?

Before deciding on a rabbit as a pet, it might be helpful to ask yourself these questions:-

What do I want from a pet?

Rabbits can be very affectionate and interactive but this is dependent on how comfortable and safe they feel in their environment.  They are prey creatures who scare easily and need gentle handling.  They love routine, dislike change and do not travel well.  However, a rabbit that feels secure and whose needs are respected will be a wonderful companion - playful, bossy, demanding, mischievous and, above all, loving.

Will a rabbit fit in with my lifestyle?

A rabbit's key needs are companionship and exercise.  They are most active at dawn and dusk and therefore fit well with people who work through the day and are able to spend time with their rabbit in the morning and evenings.  As they do not make noise like a cat or dog they are very good indoor pets for people living in close proximity to their neighbours.

Can I afford it?

Rabbits are not particularly cheap pets. The initial cost of buying a rabbit and providing housing for it can be up to £300. Rabbits must be vaccinated twice a year against myxomatosis and yearly against VHD, costing around £20 to £30 per vaccination and it is strongly recommended that rabbits are neutered or spayed, like a cat or dog, to reduce behavioural problems and prevent cancer, costing around £60 for neutering and £90 for spaying.

Should I get one or two rabbits?

Rabbits need almost constant companionship. The best way to provide this is to keep two rabbits together. If you can only keep one rabbit due to cost or space restraints, you should spend as much time as possible every day with the rabbit; this is much easier if you have a house rabbit rather than a hutch rabbit.  Your rabbit will relish the attention you give it as you are the provider of food, shelter and affection but for true companionship nothing beats another rabbit.

Should I get a rabbit for my child?

Rabbits are traditionally seen as a children's pet but in fact are not an ideal pet for a young child.  They require a certain amount of looking after in terms of cleaning the cage etc and children naturally often get bored with this.  They need to be handled gently so are not good for "rough and tumble".  Put simply - a young child's boisterous and noisy nature is not a good fit with a rabbit's natural fear of loud noises and sudden movements.  However, if you are happy to take responsibility for the care of the rabbit and are able to spend some time introducing your child to a rabbit and explaining their needs, children and rabbits will co-exist very happily.

Will a rabbit get on with my other pets?

Rabbits are often kept with guineapigs but this is not ideal as the guineapig will usually end up being bullied by the rabbit.

Rabbits can become friends with cats and dogs if the introductions are carried out properly and the cat or dog is not of an aggressive nature.  However, nature dictates that cats and dogs are predators and rabbits are prey, therefore no relationship is ever entirely safe.  At all times the rabbit should have somewhere to retreat to where the cat or dog cannot go.

This Wicker Rabbit House from Great&Small is a great hidey hole for your Bunny or Guinea Pig to snuggle up or just play around in. Made with full wicker as opposed to split wicker and hand woven for a tighter weave the Great&Small Wicker Rabbit House is much stronger than the rest. The Wicker Rabbit House can be used inside your pets cage or in their run in the garden and is 100% safe for them to nibble at great for keeping their teeth nice and trim!

Made with full wicker
Hand woven for a tighter weave
Can be used inside your pets cage or in their run
Great for keeping teeth trim
Fun and cosy hidey hole

Price: £29.99

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